Meet the local artist behind The Residency B/R Celtics collection
Springfield native Esther Wallace sketched a story of a winning culture and Banner 18 into every thread of her Celtics merch.
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If you get your hands on a piece from The Residency B/R x NBA Collection Celtics edition, the first thing you might notice is the luxurious needlework. It’s vibrant, shiny, and green.
The lettering, trim, material, buttons: Everything about the line feels considered. Retailing at $125, the baseball jersey feels rich. The sweatshirt, going for $110, carries weight. It’s all 100% cotton.
It is Celtics fan merch, elevated and constructed with a next level of care.
That’s what defines Esther Wallace’s approach.
As the founder of Playa Society, she has created a space for women in sports through apparel that prioritizes story and community.
Now, as part of the Bleacher Report Artist Collective, Wallace has created a merch collection saluting Banner 18.
Wallace grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, played college basketball, earned a Master’s degree overseas, and launched a brand of athletic apparel for the WNBA.
This new B/R collaboration marks a return of sorts, her full-circle moment.
Esther Wallace: In 2021, I had the opportunity to meet with the WNBA. It was my first brand pitch. I didn’t have experience, but I had a vision rooted in authenticity, culture, and community within women’s sports, specifically women’s basketball. That September, I launched my first WNBA collection. And then from there, my connection to the WNBA helped me build a relationship with the Celtics organization. And now for the B/R partnership, I have support and encouragement from the WNBA. They were like, ‘You can do it. We’ll support you.’
So, what was that moment like when you learned you were going to be included in the Bleacher Report Artist Residency?
EW: When the opportunity came about with Bleacher Report and The Residency, there was never a question on what team I would choose or want to work. Celtics, for sure.
And what was it like … how did it feel to join the collective?
EW: It was a full-circle moment. I had been so wrapped up in the world of entrepreneurship and growing my business, so to be recognized as an artist, and have an opportunity to approach it from that lens … and to have the support of Bleacher Report, it was encouraging to kind of be in a position where I could feel confident and just kind of explore things as an artist within the residency.
What is an artist collective like? How has it inspired you?
EW: I draw a lot of inspiration from being in that type of community, like a peer community.
Artists and creatives are just naturally supportive and encouraging, because we all know a lot of times when you’re doing the work, it feels like, you know, a lot of people don’t understand, or like you’re alone. Art sometimes feels like an isolating experience. So whenever artists are able to come together, even though we’re all working on separate projects, we kind of have that community of knowing and understanding each other. I love that part for sure.
You say you designed a love letter to the city of Boston through this collection. How did you approach designing a tribute to the Celtics?
EW: The medium could come in any form for me, whether in my sketchbook or through painting, and now as an apparel designer. But at the root of everything for me is storytelling, so I knew that’s where I wanted to start. I wanted to storytell about how Boston has been a place where I’ve been able to build something meaningful in the city. And with this being an NBA collaboration, the same way I built something meaningful is the same way the Celtics organization is meaningful to the city. I wanted to create that link and build on the story.
What does the city mean to you?
EW: Relationships. One of the early experiences when I first moved to Boston was connecting with the adult women’s basketball community. I leaned into that early on and it was a strong foundation for me. And they were all my first customers.
Do you have a favorite piece from your B/R X NBA Collection?
EW: The [black “Hustle”] T-shirt. It was the first piece — the T-shirt with the championship trophy.
How do you create? What is your process like?
EW: I sketch everything. I sketch to show value and care. When I was starting out, people would say it wasn’t worth my time or effort or energy to create products for women in sports. And so I started sketching to double down, and spent as much time, care, and attention to detail as possible to prove everyone wrong.
It is worth my time. It is worth all the attention, and the result is going to speak for itself.
In sketching the Hustle T-shirt, every element is a hand sketch. That represents the time and detail, and the storytelling is about the time and the attention the Celtics put into building something.
How is the city reflected in your design?
EW: I wanted something unique and authentic; I wanted to reflect the tradition of winning in Boston; and I wanted to tell the story of my ‘big win’ creating a brand in Boston along with the Celtics’ overall tradition and culture of winning.
No luck, just hustle, as the shirt says.
It’s about reflecting that energy of the work ethic in Boston, hustle and hard work. It reflects the sort of mindset of the Celtics and the mindset of just the city of Boston as a whole.
Who do you imagine rocking your tees?
EW: I want everyone to feel like there’s a way that they can wear it. With the Celtics collection, I wanted it to be versatile and somewhat genderless. So men, women. Everyone can wear it and style it in their own way.
Which is your favorite to wear?
EW: Definitely the baseball jersey. I love a good baseball jersey. We did a photo shoot with one of the models wearing the baseball jersey and a sports bra underneath.
Oh, that’s cool. I mean, I could see myself rocking it with a pair of denim shorts now that you mention that.
EW: Yes, exactly, and I mean, it’s all about taking staple pieces and styling them to fit your personality. That’s how I design, and that’s what I wanted for my approach to the Celtics line.
What has this meant for your business?
EW: Sometimes all it takes is just having an opportunity. It’s encouraging to feel recognized and seen, so even just at that base level this has been really big for me. As an entrepreneur, recognition helps. It helps my business and further helps grow the brand. We’re going from having a WNBA audience to now in the Celtics arena. Celtics fans are wearing Playa Society. It’s really dope to bridge the gap and bring fans over to the women’s game. That’s definitely a big part of our mission.
How do you show up in this work personally?
EW: When I talk about attention to detail, attention to care, being in community: All of those things are important to me as a designer. Community has been so critical for me. Entrepreneurship is not easy. Being an artist isn’t easy. That’s why community is at the root of everything I put out. I want people to feel good. That’s an extension of me.
What’s next? Is there a story you’re excited to tell next?
EW: We’re definitely always building and working towards our mission of creating dope merch for sports fans. And it doesn’t always have to look one way or it doesn’t always have to be, like, WNBA merch is for women and NBA merch is for men. Like, we’re just trying to create dope products for people. That’s what’s next. We always have a new job up our sleeves, so that’s what I’m excited about.
How to Wear the B/R x NBA x Playa Society Celtics Collection
Each piece in the three-part capsule — the sweatshirt, the T-shirt, and the baseball jersey — is made with thick cotton and a shape-conscious fit. The quality is evident in the feel, but also in the cut: There’s structure and stretch to compliment many body types.
The collection additionally offers the signature black “Hustle” T-shirt and “Summertime” shorts.
Here’s how to style them:
The “Big Leagues” Crewneck Sweatshirt
- Layer it over a maxi dress or a short bodycon for a twist.
- Pair it with a tennis skirt for a sporty aesthetic.
- Style it with wide-leg denim or tailored trousers for an elevated look.
The “Summertime” Baseball Jersey
- Wear it open over a tank and denim for an easy game-day fit.
- Throw it over a sundress to play with silhouettes.
The “Lucky” T-Shirt
Dress it up with gold or layer under a leather jacket for edge.
Pair it with biker shorts, your favorite jeans, or under a blazer for a quick look.
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